Schoolteacher 'lucky to be alive' after horror crash

Stacey Thomas, 26, suffered a shattered pelvis and a broken arm in the smash in Ferndale

New mum Stacey Thomas suffered horrific injuries in a car crash in Ferndale

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A schoolteacher is "lucky to be alive" after suffering horrific injuries in a car crash in Ferndale.

New mum Stacey Thomas will be unable to hold her eight-month-old baby for weeks after shattering her pelvis and breaking her left arm and shoulder in the smash.

Stacey’s father Gareth Thomas says the 26-year-old was walking to a doctor’s appointment when she smashed into the windscreen of a car on the zebra crossing near the Rhondda Hotel. Several concerned High Street residents came to the rain-drenched woman’s aid by wrapping her in blankets, redirecting traffic and calling an ambulance.

She was taken to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, where she will remain for the foreseeable future.

English teacher Stacey, who works at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, is likely to be absent from work for up to six months.

Worried father Gareth said his daughter would not be alive today if it hadn’t been for the quick-thinking Rhondda samaritans.

He said: “When she first came around, she didn’t recognise me. She still doesn’t remember anything from that day. It’s not something I’d want any parent to go through.

“But she’s very much a glass-half-full sort of person and I know she’ll remain upbeat. She is lucky to be alive and I’ve no doubt it is down to the wonderful residents of High Street.

“Who knows what we’d be planning now instead of getting her to walk again?”

University of South Wales graduate Stacey, who lives in Tonypandy, gave birth to daughter Emily just eight months ago but cannot cradle her until her pelvis heals.

Most of the babysitting duties will now fall to her boyfriend Huw Morris, a teacher at Tonyrefail Comprehensive School. Stacey was forced to lie on her back for five days and has only just started using a wheelchair.

“The support she has had from friends has been absolutely unbelievable,” added dad Gareth.

South Wales Police said the crash was reported to them at 5pm on October 30. A 22-year-old man and a 47-year-old man have been reported for summons to court following the incident. No court date has yet been set.